Recording scale



July 31, 1923. 1,463,450

- E. G. THOMAS RECORDING SCALE Filed March 29 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1July 31, 1923. 1,463,450

' E. G. THOMAS RECORDING SCALE Filed March 29 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 2gnve'nfoz Edward GTkams July 31], 11923.

1,463,450 E. G. THOMAS RECORDING SCALE Filed March 29 1918 4Sheets-Sheet 5 imam ZZZ 133 i Q July 31, 1923. 1,463,450

E. G. THOMAS RECORDING SCALE Filed March 29 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Edward@.Q /Z0m8 affozucq the following bodiment of my invention with thecasing removed;

Patented July 31, 1923.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD G. THOMAS, 013 TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO TOLEDO SCALE COMPANY, OF1 TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION NEW JERSEY.

nnconnme scams.

Application filed larch 29, 191 .8. Serial No. 225,478.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L-Eowano Gr. Tno s, a citizen of the United States,residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Recording Scales, ofwhich is a specification.

My invention relates to recording scales and more particularly toimprovements in the recording mechanism thereof, and provides means forobtaining a printed record of each individual weight and an indicationof the total amount of a number of consecutive weighings. The device asherein shown is arranged to be applied to the weighing mechanism of awell-known type of scale employing pendulums as its weightofisettingelements, and can be applied thereto without interfering with theordinary use of the scale for obtaining visual indications of theweights of commodities placed upon the scale platform. It is to beunderstood, however, that this weighing mechanism is merely exemplativeand other forms ofweighing mechanism can readily be employed.

With the above and other objects in view which will readily appear asthe invention is better understood, my invention consists of thenovelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinaftermore fully described and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings illustrating apreferred emand wherein similar reference numerals; designate similarparts throughout the several views.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of the scale head with myrecording device attached, with parts broken away to show the interiormechanism;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the scale head detail view hf the 'Fig. 3is an enlarged setting means and adjacent mechaswitch nism;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion of the type wheel;

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the adjustable cam hereinafter referredto;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 7 is an isometric view on an enlarged scale of a contact mechanismwhich coin trols the operation of the printing mecha- I ing mechanismcontrolling the motion of the type wheel and associated parts;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view showing the normal positions of thetype wheel, ink ribbon, card holder, and printing hammer;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the conitrolling electrical circuit ofthe device; an

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of the motor circuit.

My apparatus may be in its broadest sense described as a means forelectrically restraining a printing hammer, with means for rotating acircuit breaker in the circuit of the electrical restraining means intoengagement with a member movable with the scale mechanism, causingtherelease of the printing hammer to produce on a recording surface animpression from-a type wheel having simultaneous rotation with thecircuit breaker.

A scale head casing 1 contains a pendu- 4 swing outwardly to resistincrements of weight upon the draft'rod and their motion is transmittedto a pointer 14 pivotally mounted at 15 in such a manner as to rotatethe indicator 14 to raduations upon the scale dial 15 corresponding tothe weight of a commodity causing the pull upon the draftrod 11. Thisapparatus forms a welllmown commercial scale mechanism which is not partof this invention and is not claimed in this application.

A. type wheel 16 is rotatably mounted in a bracket 17 secured to thecasin 1 so that its axis of rotation is in line wit the axis ofrotation. of the pointed 14. A gear wheel 18 is secured to the printingwheel 16 and engages the pinion 19 secured to a shaft carrying the bevelwheel 20. The pinion 21- on the shaft 22 gears, with the bevel Wheel andshaft 22 through bevel gears 23, 242 is connected to the shaft on? amotor 25 by which the apparatus is driven. A fly befl governor 26 may besecuredto the shaft 22 to control the maximum speed ot' the motor 25 inorder to secure rotstion oiithe type Wheel at e desired uniform rate.

The circuit breaker 27 is mounted. upon the type Wheel 10 by means ofstuds 28 end is resiliently spaced centrally of the type wheel and theheads of the studs 28 so as to prevent the trensmission of shocks fromthe mechanism to the circuit breeir The circuit brea her consists of asuipporting piste 30 carrying an edjustable supporting bracket 43 uponwhich is pivoted a'shaft 31 carrying a series of arms 32, end The arm isarranged to with an insulated contact strip 35 secured the plate 30. Acoil spring surrounding the shaft 31 at all times tends to maintain theturn in contact with contact strip The arm 32 projects forwardly "fromthesha'it into the path of an auxiliary-pointer 36 connected with thepointer 14- to rotate therewitli. The consists oi two ports, 37 and 38{see Fig 7), and part- 08 is pivotally secured to the part 37 at thepoint 39 by means of e supporting plate 40, and the parts are soarranged that motion of the part 38 relative to the part 3'? can occurin one direction only end against the resistance of a spring ll, 'Wnenthe sun 32 is pushed in the direction of the arrow through contactpointer 3c the urine ettechecl to the with the shaft 31 "Wil more as 21Whole against the resistance the spring 42 and-will separate the arm 34%and the contact 35 and open the circuit, whereas if the arm 32 is pushedin the reverse direction of the arrow the part 38 will move on the pivot39 and permit the pointer to pass it readily. The entire.

movable member of the circuit breaker com prising the shs' t 31, arms32, 38 and is very csiefullybelsnced in ell position by is suitableweight secured tothe Supportin bracket is adjustsbly secured to theplate screws passing 50 is s cured to the casing i and mounted sprintinghamc e shaft To the printn is attached armature 5t, is mounted upon thepiste the scrunture 5 en ti hold the hammer away from the type againstthe resistence of u coil spring which tends to force hummer toward ttype wheel. in the circuit of the magnet is included a circuit breelrer57 consisting two leaves 58 and 59 supported bv en insulatinr: block $0and which are pressed us to touch and close soul/l1- lng and c magnetcircuit Whenever the armature 5% is incontact with the magnet 55, aninsulating bloclc 61 being arranged to prevent groundinc of beinggrounded to the frame through the' type wheel.

A circuit breaker consisting of leaves ll and 7'2 mounted upon aninsulating block 73 secured to the plate 50 is closed by the motion of arod 74 provided with an insulating tip 75 which will be pushed upward bythe armature 5 1* as it moves into engagement with the 55. The circuitbreaker 70 is in the circuit of the motor 25 end its source of currentand the motor will receive current only when this circuit breal-rer isclosed.

Thus, the magnet circuit, as is illustrated in Fig. 11, consists of asource of electricity 200, wire 201, magnet 55, circuit breaker 5?, wire202, contact finger 62, contact ring 64:, wire 203, circuit breaker 2?,grounded upon the type wheel 16 by the wire 204, and return wire 205 tothe source of electricity. The motor circuit cons'sts in addition to thesource of electricity of Wire 20?, circuit breaker 70, wire 208, motor25, and return wire 209' to the source of electricity The type wheel 16carries a row of type along one side of its periphery, and against theother side of its periphery s bell crunlr lever 76 pivctally supportedon the plate 50 is arranged to operetively register. T he lever 76 has nprojecting arm 7'? which will engage the insulating block 78 secured tothe leaf '71 of the circuit breaker 70' and will keep the circuitbreaker 7 0 closed as lone as the arm 79 of the bell crunlr lever 76rules on the outer surface of that part of the periphery of the typewheel 16 which is not occupied by the figures, At e certain point in itsperiphery, however, an aperture 100 is cut, substantially as showninFig. 4;, and at this point the arm 79 of the bell crank lever 7 6 willdrop from the periphery of the type wheel 16 under the action of thespring tension of the leuf 3'1 which at all times tends to separateitseltirom le 'f 72, and the circuit will be opened the leaves 71 end72, as is illustrated in 2, thus proriding for stopping" the motor at adesired point.

In order that the motor shall stop promptly when desired brake mechanismis secured to the shaft 22 consisting of a brake drum 80 provided aFriction surface 81 keyed to the 22. A brake shoe pivoted to a bracket83 secured to the i X gage tee arm 8%,

push rorlfiifi it/iii Ewes the e in an scijustsbie manner. connected to"she beii crank '76 by a push rod 86 having an abutment 87 to The arm 8%simiiari g connected to the printing by s push rod 88 equipped with anadapted to eiigsgeiiie srm parts are so adjusted when the ure is incontact magnet 55 will he forced to right se i brake shoe 82 one ofQOXTififiil Wit-ii tionei surfaee l, time ieeviiig the s free from b ekeresistance, bus iesse of i'iie pi'inizing hammer b 55 the pus'ii. rod 88Wiii be e brake shoe 8)! under the 5.1631011 of etieeheei Weight 9% Wiiiinto en with the Irieiionei surface 11" brake 651mm and bring the motorso we e uniess :he mm 8 1- is oihei'wis restreiiiezi mm dispping;(is-Wm.

If the em 79 of seii cred 9 upon periphery 0f the type rigiiiend iifi)the brake sheeu gegememi perm? sisa Ween we arm 79 amps mm s theperiphery-of ii'rissei brake wiii only be in ego-arse the mei'ioii oithe per stills W ing hammer sheii eve been magnet flee beii droppeiiinto 1 s. the type Wheel A semi hoicies is ioes sent a eei'e'i e lsee.me? whee: for reeeivii reoor 93 in cerei iiefiier perm hammer is passthrough card 9% iipwerci the receive its impression. An inking Ti isguideci by roiiess' 95 so as is psss the iype Wheel the es? causevisibie reeoid to be imp resse e semi when ii, is forced e Wheel,Containing reels 9% with fee 97 e fesmgeoi for the ribioon and its movesThe printing hammer nub 98 with Various projee'bimg 212i of which ismeme cum ed Md in spring membes 1G1 seemec. member '99 only at e pointdose is the 98, conforming eieseiy in co m-em to member 99, in sueii amanner t1 at mam 99 and 101 tend to remain iiggiitiv eon izact at theirout-er ends. A weigh-{bleak is secured to the spring member 101 pivoteei"thereon. is a printing meni e1" 1051 connected by s tension spring-1042ce the mem'her "99 by which the printing membei? 103 is thrown eteiiisie C sure is released end the prin operator A suiiebie priiiiziiig SUPrubber, felt oi: other yleifii; me-

beriei 1 158 stseeiieei to the pliii'iii membe? 193 An ediussbie step108 is tapped into a boss 10'? secured in the pie-be against *Wiiiiehthe hub member to which f erm ture is secured Wiii strike when mes mrsw:imekwsrd by the spring sdjiisisbie chances! of the stop 10% by. in

operau 3 The op lows: .i eomiiiooiity "of any soyi'z upen ifheleeei-reeeiver of so i the use nsnnei the pointer name so a positionWhere it 3&

Weight of the eitioie to be W the device Wiii e rod 110 inward as is?thereby ifs-assisting the priming Tim the force of the spring 58 i1 HHEiii so wet with he This movement of the eireui't of the magnet s and 59together, &1 gizmg; we and sens ng the ZLIZIQEILHT-S 5 This motion 0*iiire aise W11 eiose the CilCUi'il .i

i We 25 into HiO'iiiOfi,

s the will be missed from "tie zero pesii 0;.

a eompie'te eireie, peel ail the zero position in :1 me we be newdeseribefi. The eiseuiib be r in the motor (BiICiIii' J is iieifl in 11positien both by the engagement mstiiie Wit the roe-i and 1 emniiiever76. The 16k i eiy of tee tyne wheel a point w "y gs ii are;

esteei ins;

, m 100 wil 11 i as 7 k oieiii: T sitioii iiiiistmieci 3 Z6 cannot the i"5011 an can drop info the 1 cf the motor Wiii therefore [1 snectiveactionof the armature which action. hows? i", is neces- Ming 3) themotor and turning umii the arm 79 eneouniess .edge 111 of gap 100 andrides upon the periphery of the type wheel.

As the type wheel 16 rotates it carries with it the circuit breaker 27and eventually will rotate to a point where the arm 32 encounters theauxiliary pointer "36. The further rotation of the type wheel andcircuit breaker will 0 en the circuit between the arm 341 and contiictplate 35, and inasmuch as this circuit breaker is made delicately and ofvery light material the opening of the circuit will occur practically atthe moment of contact with the auxiliary pointer 36. The opening of themagnet circuit at this point will de-energize the magnet 55, armature54; will be released, and underthe action of the spring 56 the printinghammer will be rapidly rotated in a counter-clockwise di rection as seenin Fig. 2, until it encounters the stop 106 which limits its motion inthis direction. At this moment the printing surface 108 is'just out ofcontact with the card 92, but the momentum of the weight block 102 andprintingmember 103 will bendthe spring member 101 sufliciently to permitthe weight block 102 and printing member 103 .to rise verticallycarrying the card 92 and' ribbon 94- withthem until the ribbon isforcedagainst the type wheel 16, thereby impressing the record of the typewheel atthe point of contact on the card 92 and securing a record of thelocation of the auxiliary pointer 36 and associated'indicating pointer14. By properly proportioning the strength of the spring member 101 andthe mass of the weight block 102 and printing member 103 these-partswill strike against the type wheel 16 with the force of a blow justsuited to produce the desired impression of the type wheel upon thecard. The spring member 101 will immediately retract the weight block102 and attached parts until the spring member 101 is again in contactwith the curved member 99 so that the time of contact between theprinting parts and the type wheel will be only momentary. However, thety e wheel 16 will at this time be in motion and in order to preventtranslation of the type surface over that of the card during the time ofcontact the printing mem her 103 is hinged, as has been described, uponthe weight block 102 and its upper surface 108 can therefore while incontact through the card with the t pe wheel 16 travel in the directionof t e arrow the amount represented by the motion of the type wheelduring the time of contact. As soon as these parts are drawn back by thespring member 101 the tension spring 104- will pull the printing member103 back to its original positionin contact with the stop 105 but by theuse of-this construction blurring of the record upon the card will beprevented.-

Since the circuit of the motor remains closed after the printing hammerreturns to its original position through the action of the bell-cranklever 76 of the circuit breaker the type wheel 16 will continue inrotation until it ap roaches the zero position, when the arm 7 9 willdrop into the gap 100 and permit the circuit'breaker 70 tact arm 32 tothe position of the type wheel may be made so as to print an amountcorresponding exactly to the indication on the (119.1. If, .forinstance, the amount recorded on the card is greater than the amountindicated on the dial the contact can be moved forward so as to'engagethe auxiliary pointer 36 at a slightly earlier time in the rotation ofthe type wheel whereby a smaller amount will be printed upon the card,or if the reverse is true and the amount printed on the card is lessthan that indicated the contact may be drawn back so as to engage thearm-36 a little later in the revolution of the type wheel, which willresult in a larger amount being printed on the card, since the typewheel will have turned to a greater amount before the.

printing action took place.

In order to totalize .the succession of a series of printing operationsa counter 120 is mounted upon the bracket 17 and is driven by means of agear 121 meshing with 9 gear 122 frictionally driven from a shaft 123which is geared by miter gears 124" mounted upon the shaft carrying thebevel wheel 20, the ratio of the gearing being such that a motion of thetype wheel 16 representing one unit of weight. will move the counter oneunit. The gear 122 is secured to a ratchet 12 1-. These parts as a wholerun free upon the shaft 123 but are driven through friction blocks 125-secured in the fixed spider 126 and sliding spider 127 which is pressedtoward the gear 122 by a spring 128. A pawl 129 is pivoted at 130 to abracket 131 secured to the bracket 17,

the location of the pawl being such as to permit it to come intooperative relation with the ratchet 124. A. rod-132 having an abutment133 passes through the paw1'129.

A spring 134 is placed on the rod 132 above I the pawl and the end ofthe rod is threaded and a nut 135 serves to create a pressure of thespring downward on the pawl 129. The

lower end of the rod 132 is connected to an arm 136 secured to the hubof the printing hammer and the parts are so arranged that when theprinting hammer is in its normal menace position against the stop 106the abutment 133 on the rod 132 will press the pawllilll firmly againstthe ratchet 124:, thereby preventing its rotation, but when the printinghammer is in contact ,with and retained by the magnet 55 the abutment133 will be withdrawn and the spring 13% will tend to release the pawl129 from the teeth of "the ratchet 124, permitting its rotation. Anadjustable stop 137 is mounted in the pawl 129 to regulate the lowestposition which it may occupy.

The pawl 129 is in the form of a bellcrank lever and a stifi fiat spring138 is secured to the member 139 thereof. A cam 140 is adjustablysecured to one of the arms of the type wheel, as is shown in Fig. 5, bymeans of a plate 141 screwed to the arm of the type wheel. The sprin 138and cam 140 occupy positions whereby they are relatively operative. Whenthe spring 188 is in engagement with the top surface of the cam 140, asis illustrated in 8, the pawl 129 is held into engagement with the teethof the ratchet 124 irrespective of the position of the rod 132, butafter further progress of the cam 140 in the direction of the arrow thespring 138 will drop out of engagement with it, permitting the pawl 129to drop downward out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet if atthe same time the rod 132 has been drawn downward by the setting of theprinting hammer into engagement with its magnet 55.

The purpose of the latter device is to insure that motion of theprinting counter shall begin only at that point in the rotation of thetype wheel 16 which represents a true zero osition. Inasmuch as itcannot be assure that the motor 25 will always stop at exactly the samepoint the apparatus is arranged to stop a short distance back of thetrue zero position. It the pawl 129 was released at the moment ofsetting the printing hammer it is obvious that some motion in thecounter 120 might occur before the type wheel passed its true zeroposition, and since the motion of the counter 120 will not be stoppeduntil the printing action has taken place it is obvious that the readingof the'counter would be greater than a true reading. The cam 140 istherefore set at such a position that the spring 138 is in contact withthe top surface of the cam, preventing the rotation of the ratchet untilthe type wheel reaches a'true zero position. The cam is set so that atthis position it ,passes out of engagement with the. spring 138,permitting the motion of the ratchet 124 and counter 120 to begin at theexact zero position of the type wheel, thus insuring that the record ofthe counter shall exactly agree with the reading of the card.

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodimentof my inventionherein disclosed is well calculated to adequatel' fulfill the objectsand advantages primarily set forth, it is to be understood that myinvention is susceptible to variation, modification and change withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope or the invention as set forth in thesubjoined claims.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a recording scale, the combination of a scale including a memberpositionable in accordance with the weight on the scale, aspring-propelled printin hammer, electrical means for retaining theprinting hammer in inoperative position, a circuit breaker in thecircuit oi said electrical means adapted to move in a line parallel tothe line of motion or" said member and having a part projecting; intothe path thereof, a type-car rying device moving with the circuitbreaker and adapted for cooperation with said ham-. mer, and means forimparting motion to said circuit breaker.

2. .ln a recording scale, the combination of a scale mechanism includinga weightindicating member, a printing hammer, elec trical means forretaining the printing hammer inoperative position, a circuit breakerarranged to move in a path parallel to that of said weight-indicatingmember and having a part projecting into the path thereof, atype-carrying device moving with the circuit breaker and adapted forcooperation with said hammer, and means for imparting motion to saidcircuit breaker.

3. In a recording scale, the combination of a scale mechanism includinga. weightindicating member, a tyocarrying device, a printing hammertherefor, means for op erating said hammer, electrical means forcontrolling the action of said means, including a circuit breakerarranged to more in a line parallel to the path of saidweight-indicating member, and having a part projecting into the path oisaid indicating member, and means for imparting related motion to saidtype-carryingdevice and said circuit breaker.

reco 9' scale, the combination of a weighing mechanism having arotatable weight-indicating member, a type-carrying device, printinghammer therefor, means for operating said hammer, electrical means forcontrolling the action of said operating means and including a circuitbreaker arranged to rotate about an axis identical with that about whichthe weightindicating member rotates and including two contact points, amember operatively attached to said circuitbreaker and project ing intothe path of said weight-indicating device and adapted to vary therelative rotation of said contact points, and means for impartingrelated motion to said typewrrying device and said circuit breaker.

a recording scale, the combination with a scale having a rotatableindicating element, of a rotatable type-carrying mem her, a circuitbreaker carried thereon and projecting into the path of said indicat ngelement, an electrically controlled print ng hammer mounted adjacent thetype-carrying member, a circuit therefor controlled by said circuitbreaker, and means for rotating the type-carrying member and circuitbreaker through full revolution avhen desired.

6. In a recording scale, the combination with a scale having a rotatableindicating element, of a rotatable type-carrying member, acircuitbrealrer carried thereon projecting into the path of said indicatng element, an electrically controlled printing hammer mounted adjacentthe type-carrying member, a circuit therefor controlled by said circuitbreaker, and electrically actuated means for 'rotatlng the type-carryingmember and circuit breaker through a full revolution when desired.

7. In a recording scale, in combination,

Weighing mechanism includin an element positionable in accordance withthe weight on the scale, a recording mechanism cooperating therewith,said recording mechanism including a movable type-carrying member, aspring actuated printing hammer mounted adjacent thereto, electricallyactuated means for holding the printing hammer out of engagement withthe type-carrying member, and means for breaking the circuit of saidmounted adjacent thereto, electrically actu- 2 1 "i i w i ated in 101'iifllfllnf l laininer out with type-carrying member, and incur d on thetype-corrying forbreaning the circuit of said electrically iated meansat a point in the movement oi said type-carr ing determined by thepositian said element.

includi an elemen I ,1 ,F e in accoiuance with one o on the scale andrecording mechanism cooperating therewith, said recording mechanismincluding a rotatable type-carrying mem ber, a spring actuated printinghammer mounted adjacent thereto, electrically actuated means for holdingthe printing ham mer out of engagement with the type-carrying member,and means mounted on the type-carrying member for breaking the circuitof said electrically actuated means at point in the rotation of saidtype-carrying member determined by the position of said element.

10. in a recording scale, in combination, Weighing mechanism includingan element position able in accordance With the Weight on said scale andrecording mechanism coopersting therewith, said recording mechanismincluding a type-Wheel, a motor and connections for rotating thetype-Wheel, a printing hammer mounted adjacent the typewheel,electrically actuated means for controlling the position of said hammer,a circult connecting the motor and hammer contrcl with a source ofcurrent, means for closing the circuit to energize the motor to offeetone complete revolution of the type- Wheel, and hold the printing hammeraway from the type-Wheel, and, means for breaking the hammer control ata predetermined point during the revolution of said type-wheel.

ii. In a recording scale, in combination, Weighing mechanism includingan element positionable in accordace "with the Weight on said scale, atype-"Wheel, means torrotatmg the type-wheel through a completerevolution, means for e 'ecting an impression while the type-Wheel is inmotion at point in its revolution determined by the position of saidelement.

1%. in a recording scale, in combination, Weighing mechanism includ g anelement positionable in accordance with the Weight on said scale, a typel, electrically actuated means for rotati. the type-Wheel through acomplete revolution, and means effecting an impression type i; initsrevolin Wheel is in motion at a po tion determined by the pesfionclement.

